Time to start thinking legislatively

As previewed in our April 17 newsletter, plans are well under way for implementation of AZELO’s unique 7 Touches Campaign.
            Under the guidance of Leesa Stevens, Dwight Moore and Jay Scherotter, the team has divided the state’s geography into eight regions, each with a Regional Leader who is responsible for implementing the campaign for the Legislative Districts that fall within their assigned region. Regions were allocated based on geography, population density, registered voter population, and proximity to a leader’s home.
            Here’s a look at the campaign organization:
  Leader                               Region                         Legislative Districts 
Leesa Stevens             Northern Arizona                    1, 5, 6, 7
Ron Fischler                 Eastern Arizona                      8, 12, 16, 28
Tom Fitch                      E. Maricopa County               23, 25
Jay Scherotter              S. Maricopa County                17, 22, 16, 27
Mandy Weaver             Central Phoenix                      15, 18, 24
Stu Burge                     W. Maricopa County                20, 21, 29, 30
Dwight Moore               W. & S.W. Arizona                   2, 4, 13, 19
Mary Ganapol               Southern Arizona                    3, 9, 10, 11, 14
          The 7 Touches Campaign will launch in May and continue through November. It is focused on introducing legislators to the AZELO organization, increasing their understanding of medical aid in dying (MAID), and providing an opportunity to meet our constituent/volunteers.
What the heck is a constituent/volunteer?
            The “constituent” part means the person lives and votes in a specific Legislative District. Importantly, they help elect Representatives and Senators to office. Part of any elected officeholder’s job is to represent their constituents’ interests and provide a direct link to government. The “volunteer” simply indicates that we are relying on citizens willing to express their belief in the need for a medical aid in dying law in Arizona. They don’t even need to be an active AZELO supporter.
           Briefly, here's what the job entails. Early next month, when you read about the campaign's 1st Touch in this newsletter, please follow the directions on how to email your legislators and what to say. Then, shortly thereafter, your Regional Leader will be contacting you to support you and answer any questions you have. Once the campaign gets rolling, we anticipate it will only take about 15 minutes per month for a constitute/volunteer to help in this important effort.
Next challenge
            With the campaign’s leadership framework in place, next comes the task of identifying AZELO supporters who are willing to serve as constituent/volunteers. Ideally, we would simply invite one of our volunteers in each of the state’s Legislative Districts to work with their Regional Leader to communicate with their District’s two State Representatives and One Senator. Unfortunately, Arizona is a big state (114,000 square miles) and AZELO doesn’t have a volunteer living in each and every Legislative District. That means that if one of our Regional Leaders contacts you and asks for your help, we sincerely hope you will agree to be part of what promises to be a history-making Arizona legislative session.starting Jan.1, 2021.
          For your convenience, here is the link to the website where you can simply type in your home address and find the number of your Legislative District: What's My District? outlined in green. Be sure to note that Congressional (federal) districts also appear on the map (outlined in blue). Once you determine your Legislative District number you can check out another site to learn all about the people who represent your interests in the Arizona Statehouse My State Legislators.